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WRHA
Honors Rural Health Heroes
Governor Gregoire, Secretary Selecky,
Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers Speak At Luncheon
 Each
year during the Northwest Regional Rural Health
Conference, the Washington Rural Health Association
honors individuals and organizations for their
dedication to rural health in our State. Before the
awards presentation this year, Governor Gregoire spoke
to the more than 300 attendees about Washington’s health
accomplishments and ongoing challenges. (The full text
of Governor Gregoire’s speech is available here:
http://www.wrha.com/governor.htm.) Her message was
inspiring: together we have done much, and together we
will do even more. “Doing the work required to keep our
citizens healthy is not easy, but I know that we will
get there working together,” said Governor Gregoire.
Returning as host for the
luncheon and awards was our Washington Secretary of
Health, Mary Selecky. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris
Rodgers joined her on the stage to assist in presenting
the awards. Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers shared her
thoughts about rural health as well, including
information about the work she is doing in Washington,
DC to protect our state’s rural health system.
Outstanding Rural
Health Practitioners
Pete Martin, PA-C, &
Fran Martin, RHN, PHN
Secretary Selecky then
invited Fran and Pete Martin of Tekoa to come up on
stage. Not only have the Martins become a part of the
fabric of their own community, they have made a career
of building healthier communities. Their individual and
combined efforts have touched the lives of people
throughout southeast Washington and beyond. In
recognition of their perseverance and innovation in
providing care and access to the Tekoa community, Fran
Martin, RHN, PHN, and Pete Martin, PA-C, were honored as
outstanding rural health practitioners.
Outstanding Rural
Health Practitioner
Walter Henze, MD
Next to be honored was Dr.
Walter Henze of Tonasket. Although he has put down his
well-worn stethoscope, Dr. Henze continues to provide
leadership in the medical community of North Central
Washington. His influence and dedication will continue
to affect the lives of the thousands of people for whom
he provided care and inspiration over his years as the
quintessential rural family doctor. In recognition of
his exceptional work as a healer, teacher, leader, and
pioneer in rural health, Dr. Walter Henze was honored as
an outstanding rural health practitioner.
Outstanding
Contribution To Rural Health
David Weber, MD
Dr. David Weber currently
serves as the Chairman and CEO of Wenatchee Valley
Medical Center and has led the organization in that role
since 2002. He joined the organization over 30 years ago
as a radiologist. After three decades of providing
quality service to his physician colleagues, and their
patients, Dr. Weber took his passion for service to
another level when elected to the position of Chairman
of the board and CEO. Since then he has traveled from
Olympia to Washington D.C., representing the needs of
rural healthcare providers and the patients that they
serve.
In recognition of his ongoing commitment to addressing
the challenges of rural health access in Washington with
fortitude and vision, Dr. David Weber was honored for
his outstanding contribution to rural health.
2008 President’s Award
Dave Berk
Dave Berk passed away just
before last year’s holidays. Dave was a treasure for
hospitals in Washington and the Northwest for many
years. Over the past 20 years he worked with well over
100 hospitals. Time and again he would step into
hospitals facing difficult financial situations and
every time he left the hospitals stronger. He was a
great and patient teacher and Washington’s communities,
colleges, and governmental agencies are full of folks
who benefited from his sage advice. What really set him
apart was his humanity. He was fun to be with, quick to
tell a joke, and even quicker to laugh at the quips of
others. He truly cared about the communities that he
worked with.
In recognition of his astute
insight and knowledge, his kindness and compassion, and
the many years in which he shared these gifts with the
rural health community, Dave Berk was honored with the
2008 WRHA President’s Award.
As WRHA President, David
Olson presented the award and Peter House shared a few
words from Dave’s family. The ceremony then concluded
with remarks from conference chair Jodi Palmer.
For 2009
WRHA presents these awards
each year in March as a way of honoring those who have
made contributions to rural health in our state, and as
a way of sharing their inspiring stories with other
rural health advocates. We invite our members to
consider nominating an individual or organization that
has made a significant positive impact on rural health
in Washington State for next year’s ceremony.
Nominations will be due on February 1st, 2009.
Photos by Dick Goldsmith.
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